The Founder's POV

Chapter 22: A Fight

Back in the lower Island...

Jin walked behind Gilbert, powerless, and glanced at the device with the button.

That device made him helpless... and he hated helplessness more than anything else.

At first, he thought of launching a quick back attack to eliminate Gilbert and destroy the device completely. But he knew, as someone who had fought Gilbert before, that he couldn't do that.

After a while, the source of threat started to talk.

"You may be wondering about a lot right now, and I can't blame you. After all, even I didn't find one realistic thing here when I first arrived. We are in the Puppet Society, a living hell for those who do not possess the Pride Bloodline."

Jin's expression changed at that moment, recognizing Gilbert's last words.

The Pride Bloodline is a demonic bloodline... and the strongest one at that...

Jin's way of walking changed slightly, and he seemed to stop showing an aggressive stance, ready to listen.

"This society was established by a demonic contractor who escaped here about a hundred years ago and used demonic fruits to prolong his life. He uses one of the most powerful skills he obtained from demons, a wide-range mental control skill.

Anyone who approaches the island is forcibly brought to the center, where one of the working puppets awaits its victims. In that case, I was responsible for bringing you and that other useless kid."

Jin was speechless. Was Cassian really useless?

He thought about his talent, surviving the Mountain of fog and mastering an unparalleled martial art...

Jin wasn't stupid. He realized how good Cassian's martial art was immediately upon seeing it, still feeling it had its own benefits.

"There are two decently sized islands on this tree, the upper island where the puppet facility and the contractor's descendants' residence are.

Puppets are used as entertainment and pets up there, then sent down here when they spoil. They will be forced to consume oil to live, and the only way to find oil here is that hotel."

Jin listened carefully, trying to analyze the situation he found himself in.

He also thought about Cassian. Was he now a source of entertainment for people above? That would be very bad for him if that were the case.

Jin felt a little pity for the boy who accompanied him for several days, but pity was all.

He's not even sure of his own safety, and even if he was, he still wouldn't go to the upper island to save a kid he only knew for a couple of days.

Escaping from here took priority. He might inform some high-ranking family members about the situation as compensation; some of them were still on Cassian's side and might come to rescue him... maybe.

"In the Black Oil Hotel, the puppets work for more than 20 hours in exchange for an oil dose similar to the one I gave you earlier.

The puppets work in mines, cut trees, and make furniture...
Everything to provide a comfortable environment without the contractor's descendants needing to work."

Gilbert's expression slowly turned ugly; he was angry... really angry...

"And we are here... trying to put an end to it all..."

Gilbert opened a massive metal door, allowing Jin to see inside.

"We will definitely escape from here... and you will be one of our helpers."